Quick dissolving agglomerated soluble fiber compositions and the process for making the same

Abstract

A rapidly dispersible, non-gelling, non-gritty low-viscosity producing powder having use as a laxative and fiber supplement essentially containing non-digestible maltodextrin agglomerated with natural gums is disclosed. Non-digestible maltodextrins containing 30-40% hydro-alcohol precipitable fiber content are agglomerated in a fluid bed agglomerator, utilizing a solution of gums like guar and acacia having greater than 70% hydro-alcohol precipitable fiber content. These fiber agglomerates when added to water or liquid beverages disperse within few seconds without needing any mechanical stirring. Fiber powder agglomerates produced utilizing the current invention dispersed within seconds without forming any lumps in soft foods like yogurt, soft ice cream, pudding, thick soups, sauce, and fruit puree. Agglomerated powders enriched a variety of soft foods and beverages with high doses of fiber, without significantly altering the taste or texture.

1 . A process for producing a soluble fiber powder composition, which produces clear, non gritty, non-viscous solution instantaneously when added to any consumable liquid or soft food, comprising of: 
 a) mixing non-digestible maltodextrins containing greater than 30% fiber content with low-viscosity forming natural gums or their derivatives;    b) forming an agglomeration with water or solutions of compounds selected from a group consisting of maltodextrins, natural gums, sugars, glycols, polypeptides, synthetic water soluble polymers and cellulosic derivatives; and    c) drying the mixture to form a dry, free-flowing, water dispersible, agglomerated dietary fiber with bulk density between 0.2 grams/cc to 0.7 grams/cc.    
   
   
       2 . The process of  claim 1  wherein the said non-digestible maltodextrin is present from 20 to 100% by weight on dry bases and the low viscosity gums or their derivatives in 0 to 70% by weight.  
   
   
       3 . The process of  claim 1  wherein the 78% alcohol-precipitable polymeric fiber content of the non digestible maltodextrin is increased from 30-40% to 40-80% by the incorporation of the low viscosity natural gums or their derivatives.  
   
   
       4 . The process of  claim 1  wherein the non-digestible maltodextrin is replaced in part by non-digestible fructo-oligosccharide, inulin, arabinogalactan, acacia and pectin.  
   
   
       5 . The process of  claim 1  wherein the low-viscosity gums or their derivatives are selected from a group comprising of guar, acacia, tragacanth, alginic acid, xanthan gum, modified cellulose, locust, pectin, and carrageenan  
   
   
       6 . The process of  claim 1  wherein a said composition contains additional added natural and artificial flavorants, acidulants and sweeteners.  
   
   
       7 . The process of  claim 1  wherein a treating agent is added to the composition to provide fiber compositions with added nutritional or therapeutic benefits.  
   
   
       8 . Treating agent claimed in  claim 7  is selected from a group comprising of oil and water soluble vitamins, minerals, herbal extracts, electrolytes, oral rehydrating salts, amino acids, antioxidants, antacids, antigas products, digestive enzymes, cholesterol lowering agents, anti-diarrheal agents, laxatives, gastric motility enhancing agents, ant-diabetic agents, dextrose to treat low blood sugar, soluble calcium and magnesium salts, and probiotics.  
   
   
       9 . A consumable, fast dissolving clear, low-viscosity producing, bulk fiber composition consisting essentially of non-digestible maltodextrin agglomerated with natural soluble gum or its derivatives, said gum being present in an amount of at least 0.0001 percent by weight of the said composition and moisture being present within a range of about 0.1 to about 8.0 percent.  
   
   
       10 . The composition of  claim 9  additionally containing flavorants, acidulants and sweeteners.  
   
   
       11 . The composition of  claim 9  additionally containing a treating agent selected from a group comprising of oil-soluble and water-soluble vitamins, minerals, herbal extracts, electrolytes, oral rehydrating salts, amino acids, antioxidants, antacids, antigas products, digestive enzymes, cholesterol lowering agents, anti-diarrheal agents, laxatives, gastric motility enhancing agents, ant-diabetic agents, dextrose to treat low blood sugar, soluble calcium and magnesium salts, and probiotics.